As schools countrywide were being closed indefinitely following the outbreak of the coronavirus, Daniel Kabugu together with his fellow students at the Kenyatta University (KU) were devising ways to help Covid-19 patients.

With lectures suspended, they formed an online group where Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) members could pitch prototypes.

“We settled on a ventilator concept,” says Mr Kabugi, 24.

The ventilator, which is referred to as Vent Tiba, is made up of a cubical unit connected to an oxygen tank with two pipes that delivers inhaled and exhaled air.

It is divided into four sections - input (oxygen), processing (components mixing) output (doctor’s set parameters) and watchdog (sensors). Read more